picture of the day

DPJ shuffle

20 Comments

Katsuya Okada, third from left, punches the air with other senior members of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) after being elected a leader of the main opposition party, in Tokyo on Sunday. They are, from left, Goshi Hosono, Banri Kaieda, Okada and Akira Nagatsuma.

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That is such a uniquely Japan photo. I can't think of any other country where, after a political party chooses a new leader, the winner and the losers get together like that. Can you imagine the Republicans and the Democrats doing that in the U.S.? Goshi Hosono doesn't seem too upset at losing.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The losers in a democratic presidential primary almost always support the winner. Sometimes they even end up on the same ticket. I don't know about the fist pumping though...

3 ( +4 / -1 )

"Shuffle" is the operative word. All Japanese political parties do is shuffle the same old, stale deck of "leaders". Maybe it is just me, but if I were the opposition, and I really had the intention of taking the country in a new direction, I would try to show the voters a fresh face -- not just the same old, same old. As the saying goes, Japan is just re-arranging the deck chairs at this point.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Did they get a 4 for the price of 3 deal on their suits?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Is it Village People? On the cover of the Asahi, they're doing a Y.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Okada always looks like he just woke up.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

These guys look as though they go to the karaoke box together a lot.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I do think this is a "Japan"thing - and not only because all the competitors seemingly are fine with the outcome, but it's just the hands on the hips - looking-like-a-dance-routine stance that really makes me puke. Like a glee club in college... MEN GROW UP for goodness sakes.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Quit fisting and go do something!

3 ( +5 / -2 )

That is such a uniquely Japan photo. I can't think of any other country where, after a political party chooses a new leader, the winner and the losers get together like that. Can you imagine the Republicans and the Democrats doing that in the U.S.?

There is nothing all that unique about this photo or the situation it represents. They are all from the same party. It is quite common in most countries, including your own, for members of the same party to stick together. You are comparing members of different parties and the comparison does not work.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

They all look the part - LDP must be really nervous for the next election.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

They are all losers

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Brainiac: "I can't think of any other country where, after a political party chooses a new leader, the winner and the losers get together like that."

It's because they all know that even if they lost they are the next in line to be leader because, as you said, there is no other country that does it like Japan does. "Shuffle" is the operative word in this, because that's all they do here, shuffle the chairs around and cue the music to start playing again. No other country allows a leader who resigned after complete failure to become PM again a few years and several PMs later, so like you said...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Fisting into the air? The combined mike holding and hands on hips...well there are some issues probably due to the parents being closely related. The LDP regime have been in power for what 70+ years these that's not going to change the ruling party are inbred as are the opposition and we all have to pay their salaries. Go fisting, hope they enjoy their love love .

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The fist is okay. It shows that they're dedicated and committed, although it can appear perfunctory. It's the hand on the hip that is amusing. See Hosono and Nagatsuma, first and last guy from the right or left. Is that standard too?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@jerseyboy

Japan is just re-arranging the deck chairs at this point.

BOOM! There it is. Politics in Japan is such a non-entity.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

They then completed the Hokey Pokey by shaking it all about.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

it appears that one is the singer and the other two are the dancers.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

And auditions for the role of superman are under way.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It's the hand on the hip that is amusing. See Hosono and Nagatsuma, first and last guy from the right or left. Is that standard too?

Seems to be. I saw a picture of the LDP leaders all doing the same thing just before the December election.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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